PawSox, Alfredo Aceves shut down Bulls on road

The Boston Red Sox thought they’d gotten a steal when they signed N.Y. Yankees free agent righthander Alfredo Aceves to a multi-million dollar contract prior to the 2012 season.

Aceves, who pitched four seasons for the Yankees including the 2009 world championship season, hasn’t lived up to expectations and last week was demoted to the minors because of his lack of performance.

Since Aug. 1, he’d gone 1-5 with an 8.51 earned-run average and had three blown saves in 25 games.

On Thursday, Aceves (1-0) pitched more like the 30-year-old veteran the Red Sox are paying $2.65 million this season. Problem was he did it for the Pawtucket Red Sox in their 10-1 International League win over the Durham Bulls.

Aceves pitched six innings of two hit ball, striking out six and walking four, leaving with a 6-0 lead Thursday.

The PawSox scored three times in the third inning off Durham starter and loser Alex Torres (2-1) to take stake Aceves to a 3-0 lead.

Ryan Lavarnway drove in the first run with a two-out single and Bryce Brentz followed with a two-run double.

Mark Hamilton drove in another with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth off Torres and Brock Holt singled in the fifth and sixth PawSox runs off reliever Jim Paduch with two outs in the sixth.

Veteran Craig Breslow, signed with the Sox as a free agent this past offseason for two years and $6.25 million, relieved fellow millionaire Aceves and held the Bulls scoreless through seven. Breslow, who has pitched extensively in the big leagues including with the Red Sox, Indians, Twins, A’s and Diamondbacks, is on an injury rehab assigment with the PawSox.

Chris Gimenez singled in Wil Myers with one down in the top of the eighth to break up the shutout. The run came off reliever Chris Hernandez, former University of Miami ace lefthander.

Paduch couldn’t keep the lid on Pawtucket which immediately answered with four runs in the bottom of the eighth to bury the Bulls. Jonathan Diaz and Holt each singled in a run.

Paduch gave way to reliever Adam Liberatore who promptly gave up a run-scoring base hit to Justin Henry and a run-scoring sacrifice fly to Lavarnway. Both runs were charged to Paduch.